U.S. patent application number 12/658666 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for adjustable rotation base.
Invention is credited to Wanda Ying Li.
Application Number | 20100147341 12/658666 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42239078 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100147341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Wanda Ying |
June 17, 2010 |
Adjustable rotation base
Abstract
An adjustable rotation base includes a base housing and a
transportation arrangement. The base housing has a bottom side, an
upper side for coupling with the supporting post to support the
outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity
indently formed on the bottom side of the base housing, wherein the
base housing includes a stationary unit provided at the bottom side
for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary manner, and a
plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at the bottom
side of the base housing. The transportation arrangement is
provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an
idle mode and a transportation mode in which the stationary unit is
upwardly lifted to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on
the ground surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be
transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels.
Inventors: |
Li; Wanda Ying; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID AND RAYMOND PATENT FIRM
108 N. YNEZ AVE., SUITE 128
MONTEREY PARK
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
42239078 |
Appl. No.: |
12/658666 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12069759 |
Feb 12, 2008 |
7641165 |
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12658666 |
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11807661 |
May 29, 2007 |
7513479 |
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12069759 |
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12590942 |
Nov 16, 2009 |
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11807661 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 ;
248/522 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2025/003 20130101;
E04H 12/2238 20130101; A45B 2017/005 20130101; E04H 12/2246
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/16 ;
248/522 |
International
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20060101
A45B003/00; F16M 13/00 20060101 F16M013/00 |
Claims
1. An outdoor umbrella, comprising: an awning frame; a supporting
shaft supporting said awning frame, wherein said supporting shaft
comprises a rotatable shaft body having a hollow structure to
define a shaft cavity therein; and an adjustable rotation base,
which comprises: a base housing arranged to couple with said
supporting shaft to support said awning frame in an upright manner;
and to a rotation arrangement, which comprises: a base shaft
upwardly extended from said base housing, and is arranged to be
received in said shaft cavity of said rotatable shaft body; an
engaging head received in said shaft cavity of said rotatable shaft
body, and comprises a plurality of first engaging teeth formed on
said base shaft, and a plurality of second engaging teeth formed on
a sidewall of said shaft cavity of said rotatable shaft body for
engaging with said first engaging teeth; and an actuation unit
extended from said engaging head in such a manner that when said
actuation unit is actuated, said second engaging teeth is
adjustably driven to rotate with respective to said first engaging
teeth, so as to impart a controlled relative rotational movement
between said rotatable shaft body and said base shaft for allowing
said supporting shaft to rotate with respective to said adjustable
rotation base.
2. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
engaging head comprises a first gear unit mounted on top of said
base shaft, wherein said first engaging teeth is formed as said
teeth of said first gear unit for engaging with said second
engaging teeth, wherein said first gear unit is mounted on a top
portion of said base shaft in a stationary manner so that when a
rotation force is applied to said first gear unit, an object from
which said rotational force applies is rotated in reverse
direction.
3. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
engaging head further comprises a second gear unit provided within
said shaft cavity of said rotatable shaft body, wherein said second
engaging teeth is formed as said teeth of said second gear unit,
wherein said second gear unit is provided in said shaft cavity at a
position aligning with said first gear unit so that said first gear
unit is normally engaged to said second gear unit.
4. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
actuation unit comprises an actuating handle rotatably connected
with said engaging head for driving said rotatable shaft to rotate
about a transverse axis of said base shaft.
5. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
actuation unit comprises an actuating handle rotatably connected
with said second gear unit for driving said second gear unit to
rotate about a transverse axis of said base shaft, wherein said
first and said second gear unit form a worm and wheel set gear unit
for transforming driving force through 90.degree..
6. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
actuating unit comprises an actuating pedal extended out of said
rotatable shaft and pivotally connected with respective to said
rotatable shaft, and a unidirectional gear unit connecting between
said actuating pedal and said engaging head, wherein said
unidirectional gear unit is arranged to transform a downward
pivotal movement to a transverse rotational movement of said
engaging head, so that when said actuating pedal is stepped on by a
user, said downward pivotal motion is arranged to drive said
rotatable shaft to rotate at said transverse axis thereof.
7. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 5, wherein said
actuating unit comprises an actuating pedal extended out of said
rotatable shaft and pivotally connected with respective to said
rotatable shaft, and a unidirectional gear unit connecting between
said actuating pedal and said second gear unit, wherein said
unidirectional gear unit is arranged to transform a downward
pivotal movement to a transverse rotational movement of said second
gear unit, so that when said actuating pedal is stepped on by a
user, said downward pivotal motion is arranged to drive said second
gear unit to rotate at said transverse axis of said rotatable
shaft, so as to impart a rotational movement to said rotatable
shaft.
8. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base
housing has a bottom side, and an upper side for coupling with said
supporting shaft to support said outdoor umbrella in an upright
manner, wherein said base housing further has a through slot formed
on said upper side for allowing said rotatably shaft body to
rotatably coupled with said base shaft and said base housing
through said through slot.
9. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 5, wherein said base
housing has a bottom side, and an upper side for coupling with said
supporting shaft to support said outdoor umbrella in an upright
manner, wherein said base housing further has a through slot formed
on said upper side for allowing said rotatably shaft body to
rotatably coupled with said base shaft and said base housing
through said through slot
10. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein said base
housing has a bottom side, and an upper side for coupling with said
supporting shaft to support said outdoor umbrella in an upright
manner, wherein said base housing further has a through slot formed
on said upper side for allowing said rotatably shaft body to
rotatably coupled with said base shaft and said base housing
through said through slot.
11. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
adjustable rotation base further comprises a plurality of
transportation wheels rotatably provided at said bottom side of
said base housing so as to facilitate easy transportation of said
adjustable rotation base.
12. An adjustable rotation base for an outdoor umbrella comprising
an awning frame, a supporting shaft supporting said awning frame,
wherein said supporting shaft comprises a rotatable shaft body
having a hollow structure to define a shaft cavity therein, wherein
said adjustable rotation base comprises: a base housing arranged to
couple with said supporting shaft to support said awning frame in
an upright manner; and a rotation arrangement, which comprises: a
base shaft upwardly extended from said base housing, and is
arranged to be received in said shaft cavity of said rotatable
shaft body; an engaging head received in said shaft cavity of said
rotatable shaft body, and comprises a plurality of first engaging
teeth formed on said base shaft, and a plurality of second engaging
teeth formed on a sidewall of said shaft cavity of said rotatable
shaft body for engaging with said first engaging teeth; and an
actuation unit extended from said engaging head in such a manner
that when said actuation unit is actuated, said second engaging
teeth is adjustably driven to rotate with respective to said first
engaging teeth, so as to impart a controlled relative rotational
movement between said rotatable shaft body and said base shaft for
allowing said supporting shaft to rotate with respective to said
adjustable rotation base.
13. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 12, wherein
said engaging head comprises a first gear unit mounted on top of
said base shaft, wherein said first engaging teeth is formed as
said teeth of said first gear unit for engaging with said second
engaging teeth, wherein said first gear unit is mounted on a top
portion of said base shaft in a stationary manner so that when a
rotation force is applied to said first gear unit, an object from
which said rotational force applies is rotated in reverse
direction.
14. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 13, wherein
said engaging head further comprises a second gear unit provided
within said shaft cavity of said rotatable shaft body, wherein said
second engaging teeth is formed as said teeth of said second gear
unit, wherein said second gear unit is provided in said shaft
cavity at a position aligning with said first gear unit so that
said first gear unit is normally engaged to said second gear
unit.
15. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 12, wherein
said actuation unit comprises an actuating handle rotatably
connected with said engaging head for driving said rotatable shaft
to rotate about a transverse axis of said base shaft.
16. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 14, wherein
said actuation unit comprises an actuating handle rotatably
connected with said second gear unit for driving said second gear
unit to rotate about a transverse axis of said base shaft, wherein
said first and said second gear unit form a worm and wheel set gear
unit for transforming driving force through 90.degree..
17. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 14, wherein
said actuating unit comprises an actuating pedal extended out of
said rotatable shaft and pivotally connected with respective to
said rotatable shaft, and a unidirectional gear unit connecting
between said actuating pedal and said second gear unit, wherein
said unidirectional gear unit is arranged to transform a downward
pivotal movement to a transverse rotational movement of said second
gear unit, so that when said actuating pedal is stepped on by a
user, said downward pivotal motion is arranged to drive said second
gear unit to rotate at said transverse axis of said rotatable
shaft, so as to impart a rotational movement to said rotatable
shaft.
18. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 12, wherein
said base housing has a bottom side, and an upper side for coupling
with said supporting shaft to support said outdoor umbrella in an
upright manner, wherein said base housing further has a through
slot formed on said upper side for allowing said rotatably shaft
body to rotatably coupled with said base shaft and said base
housing through said through slot.
19. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 17, wherein
said base housing has a bottom side, and an upper side for coupling
with said supporting shaft to support said outdoor umbrella in an
upright manner, wherein said base housing further has a through
slot formed on said upper side for allowing said rotatably shaft
body to rotatably coupled with said base shaft and said base
housing through said through slot.
20. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 19, wherein
said adjustable rotation base further comprises a plurality of
transportation wheels rotatably provided at said bottom side of
said base housing so as to facilitate easy transportation of said
adjustable rotation base.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part of a non-provision
application having an application Ser. No. 12/590,942 and a filing
date of Nov. 16, 2009, and is also a Continuation-In-Part
application of a non-provisional application having an application
Ser. No. 12/069,759, and a filing date of Feb. 12, 2008, which is a
Continuation-In-Part application of a non-provisional application
having an application Ser. No. 11/807,661 and a filing date of May
29, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an outdoor umbrella, and
more particularly to an adjustable rotation base for an outdoor
umbrella, wherein the adjustable rotation base comprises a
transportation arrangement adapted to selectively and conveniently
transport the outdoor umbrella for a predetermined distance.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0005] A conventional outdoor umbrella usually comprises a
supporting base, a central stem upwardly extended from the
supporting base, and an awning extended from a top portion of the
central stem to provide shading for a predetermined shading area
under an awning attached onto the awning frame. This kind of
conventional outdoor umbrella has widely been utilized all around
the nation for shading sunlight and providing a place where a wide
variety of outdoor activities may take place. In order to enhance
the performance and function of a typical outdoor umbrella, many
inventions have been made to incorporate with a typical outdoor
umbrella for achieving additional utility functions of that outdoor
umbrella. For example, solar energy systems and illumination
systems have been developed provide an environmentally-friendly
energy source and illumination to outdoor umbrellas.
[0006] Despite these developments, there exists one deep-seated
problem which has not been adequately resolved by one skilled in
the art. The problem is that the outdoor umbrella is difficult or
inconvenient to move while being used in outdoor environment. The
most typical instance is that when a user wishes to move the
outdoor umbrella from one place to another in a campsite, he or she
has to lift up the entire outdoor umbrella and carry it to the
intended destination. If that user is unable to move the outdoor
umbrella due to its heavy weight, he or she has to ask for help
from other people. This scenario presents undue inconvenience and
sometimes embarrassment to that user because he or she may actually
have to ask the guests to help him or her to move the outdoor
umbrella. This scenario is worsened by the fact that in order to
stabilize the outdoor umbrella as a whole when it is standing on a
ground surface, the supporting base is often disposed with water or
sand (i.e. objects of high density) for preventing accidental
toppling of the outdoor umbrella. Thus, a typical outdoor umbrella
is likely to be very heavy in weight.
[0007] In order to inject mobility to a typical outdoor umbrella,
one may think that installing some sorts of wheels would be
helpful. The problem, however, is that when the user wishes the
outdoor umbrella to be stationary for prolonged used, the wheels
may actually cause accidental yet undesirable movement of the
outdoor umbrella. Therefore, there exist circumstances in which the
user of outdoor umbrella may not wish it to be movable. Simply
installing wheels to the outdoor umbrella does not resolve this
extra problem.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] A main object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable rotation base for an outdoor umbrella, wherein the
adjustable rotation base comprises a transportation arrangement
adapted to selectively and conveniently transport the outdoor
umbrella for a predetermined distance despite its heavy weight.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable rotation base for an outdoor umbrella, wherein the
adjustable rotation base is adapted to selectively operate between
an idle mode which allows the outdoor umbrella to securely stand on
a ground surface, and a transporting mode which allow convenient
and easy transportation of the outdoor umbrella. In other words,
the present invention allows selective adjustment of the position
of the outdoor umbrella.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable rotation base which can be utilized for a wide variety
of outdoor umbrellas in a wide variety of circumstances so as to
ensure widespread application of the present invention. More
importantly, the present invention does not interfere with the
operation of the outdoor umbrella.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable rotation base for an outdoor umbrella, which does not
involve expensive or complicated mechanical or electrical
components so as to minimize the manufacturing cost and the
ultimate selling price of the present invention.
[0012] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides an adjustable rotation base for
supporting an outdoor umbrella having a supporting post on a ground
surface, wherein the adjustable rotation base comprises:
[0013] a base housing having a bottom side, an upper side for
coupling with the supporting post to support the outer umbrella in
an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on the
bottom side of the base housing, wherein the base housing comprises
a stationary unit provided at the bottom side for stationary
sitting on the ground surface and a plurality of transferring
wheels rotatably supported at the bottom side of the base housing;
and
[0014] an transportation arrangement provided at the base housing
to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a
transportation mode, wherein in the idle mode, the transferring
wheels are suspenedly lifted up to define a clearance between the
transferring wheels and the ground surface such the base housing is
stationary sat on the ground surface via the stationary unit, and
in the transportation mode, the stationary unit is upwardly lifted
to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on the ground
surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be transported on
the ground surface via the transferring wheels.
[0015] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable rotation base
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable
rotation base according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are sectional side views of the
adjustable rotation base according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a driving unit according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are other schematic diagrams of the
driving unit according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6c are schematic diagrams illustrating a
first alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a second alternative mode of the adjustable
rotation base according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adjustable rotation base
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustable
rotation base according to the above second preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are sectional side views of the
adjustable rotation base according to the above second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are schematic diagrams of a first
alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the
above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a second alternative mode of the adjustable
rotation base according to the above second preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a third alternative mode of the adjustable
rotation base according to the above second preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0029] FIGS. 14A and 14B are fourth alternative mode of the
adjustable rotation base according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIGS. 15A and 15B are fifth alternative mode of the
adjustable rotation base according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a sixth alternative mode of the adjustable
rotation base according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a sectional side view of the adjustable rotation
base according to the above sixth preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0033] FIG. 18A is a perspective view of an adjustment assembly of
the adjustable rotation base according to the above sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 18B is a sectional side view of a leverage driving unit
of the adjustment assembly of the adjustable rotation base
according to the above sixth preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 19 is a sectional side view of a pull seat of the
adjustable rotation base according to the above sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella
according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor
umbrella according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0038] FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the outdoor umbrella
according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 23 is an alternative mode of the outdoor umbrella
according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella having
a base structure according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0041] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella having
a base structure according to the above eighth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella having
a base structure according to the above eighth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 27 is an alternative mode of an outdoor umbrella having
a base structure according to the above eighth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4, FIG.
5A and FIG. 5B of the drawings, an adjustable rotation base for
supporting an outdoor umbrella 70 according to a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the
adjustable rotation base comprises a base housing 10 and a
transportation arrangement 20. The outdoor umbrella 70 is meant to
be a regular outdoor umbrella 70 which comprises a supporting post
71 extended from a ground surface, and an awning frame 72 extended
from the top end portion of the supporting post 71.
[0045] The base housing 10 has a bottom side 11, an upper side 12
for coupling with the supporting post 71 to support the outer
umbrella 70 in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity 13
indently formed on the bottom side 11 of the base housing 10,
wherein the base housing 10 comprises a stationary unit 14 provided
at the bottom side 11 for sitting on the ground surface in a
station manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels 15 rotatably
supported at the bottom side 11 of the base housing 10.
[0046] The transportation arrangement 20 is provided at the base
housing 10 to operate the base housing 10 between an idle mode and
a transportation mode, wherein in the idle mode, the transferring
wheels 15 are suspenedly lifted up to define a clearance between
the transferring wheels 15 and the ground surface such the base
housing 10 is sat on the ground surface via the stationary unit 14
in a stationary manner, wherein in the transportation mode, the
stationary unit 14 is upwardly lifted to allow the transferring
wheels 15 being sitting on the ground surface, such that the base
housing 10 is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via
the transferring wheels 15.
[0047] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the base housing 10 further has a coupling hole 16
formed at the upper side 11 of the base housing 10 to communicate
with the receiving cavity 13, wherein the supporting post 71 of the
outdoor umbrella 70 is coupled with the base housing 10 through the
coupling hole 16. Moreover, the stationary unit 14 is preferably
embodied as bottom surfaces of the base housing 10.
[0048] Moreover, the base housing 10 further comprises a rotary
support 19 rotatably mounted within the base housing 10, in such a
manner that the outdoor umbrella 70 is adapted to couple with the
rotary support 19 via the coupling hole 16. Moreover, the base
housing 10 further comprises a control pedal 191 extended from the
rotary support 19 to an exterior of the base housing 10, so as to
selectively control a rotation of the rotary support 19. Thus, when
the control pedal 191 is actuated, the rotary support 19 is
rotatable with respective to the base housing 10 for adjusting an
orientation of the outdoor umbrella 70.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4,
FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B of the drawings, the transportation arrangement
20 comprises a plurality of driving units 21 operatively and
spacedly provided in the base housing 10 to mechanically
communicate with the transferring wheels 15 respectively, wherein
the driving units 21 are adapted to be selectively activated to
operate the base housing 10 between the idle mode and the
transportation mode.
[0050] More specifically, each of the driving units 21 comprises an
adjustment assembly 211 mounted in the receiving cavity 13 and a
manual actuation unit 212 extended from the adjustment assembly 211
out of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual
actuation unit 212 is adapted to be manually and selectively
operated for driving the adjustment assembly 211 to lift up the
base housing 10 with respect to the transferring wheels 15.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B
of the drawings, the base housing 10 further has a plurality of
seat portions 17 formed as four corner portions of the base housing
10, wherein the transferring wheels 15 and the driving units 21 are
coupled at the corresponding seat portion 17 for selectively
operating the base housing 10 between the idle mode and the
transportation mode. Each of the seat portions 17 is divided into a
driving compartment 171 and a control compartment 172 by a
partitioning wall 173 having a through communication slot 174,
wherein the adjustment assembly 211 and the manual actuation unit
212 are mounted in the driving compartment 171 and the control
compartment 172 respectively and communicate through the
communication slot 174 of the partitioning wall 173. According to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base housing
10 further comprises a base panel 18 transversely extended between
an inner side of the partitioning wall 173 and an inner side of the
opposed sidewall of the driving compartment 171 so as to further
divide the driving compartment 171 into an upper compartment
chamber 1711 for receiving the adjustment assembly 211 of the
corresponding driving unit 21, and a lower compartment chamber 1712
for receiving the transferring wheels 15.
[0052] For each of the driving units 21, the adjustment assembly
211 comprises a connecting shaft 201, having a lower end portion
connected with the corresponding transferring wheel 15,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171 of the
base housing 10, a biasing member 202 outwardly extended from the
connecting shaft 201 within the upper compartment chamber 1711 at a
position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of the base
panel 18, and a resilient element 203 disposed between the base
panel 18 and the biasing member 202 to normally exert an upward
urging force toward the connecting shaft 201 so as to normally
retain the corresponding transferring wheel 15 within the lower
compartment chamber 1712.
[0053] Moreover, each of the adjustment assemblies 211 further
comprises a plurality of locking teeth 204 formed an outer side of
the connecting shaft 201 for engaging with the corresponding manual
actuation unit 212 of the driving unit 21. Accordingly, each of the
manual actuation units 212 comprises an actuation pedal 2121,
having a driving end portion 2122 and an actuation end portion
2123, extended from the adjustment assembly 211 to the control
compartment 172 of the seat portion 17 through the communication
slot 174 of the partitioning wall 173, a first and a second locking
members 2124, 2128 pivotally and downwardly extended from the
actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121 for
selectively engaging with the locking teeth 204 of the
corresponding driving assembly 211. In order to normally retain
engagement between the locking teeth 204 and the locking members
2124, the manual actuation unit 212 further comprises a plurality
of retention springs 2125 mounted within the upper compartment
chamber 1711 of the driving compartment 171 to normally bias
against the locking members 2124 respectively so as to make the
locking members 2124 normally engaging with the locking teeth 204
for restricting a lateral movement between the connecting shaft 201
and the actuation pedal 2121.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B of the drawings, each of the
manual actuation units 212 further comprises a resilient member
2126 mounted in the control compartment 172 of the corresponding
seat portion 17 of the base housing 10 to normally exert an upward
urging force toward the actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation
pedal 2121, which is adapted for being stepped on by a user of the
present invention. Thus, when the user steps on the actuation end
portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121, the actuation pedal 2121
is depressed so as to compress the resilient member 2126 mounted
underneath the actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal
2121. Conversely, when the depression force is released (i.e. the
user stops stepping onto the actuation pedal 2121), the actuation
end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121 is restored to its
original position with the resilient member 2126 decompressed.
[0055] In order to access the driving units 21 from an exterior of
the base housing 10, the base housing 10 further has a plurality of
wheels control slot 175 formed on the seat portions 17 of the base
housing respectively to communicate with the control compartments
172 for allowing users to access the driving units 21 via the
wheels control slot 175. In order that the transportation
arrangement 20 does not affect the aesthetic appearance of the
entire outdoor umbrella structure, each of the manual activation
units 212 further comprises a pedal cover 2127 pivotally mounted to
the base housing 10 at a top side edge of the corresponding wheels
control slot 175 in an inwardly flappable manner, so that the pedal
cover 2127 is arranged to normally cover the corresponding wheels
control slot 175, and when the user wishes to access the driving
units 21 from exterior of the base housing 10, he or she needs only
to inwardly push the pedal cover 2127 into the control compartment
172 which then allows access to the actuation end portion 2123 of
the actuation pedal 2121. The user is then able to step onto the
actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121.
[0056] The operation of each of the driving units 21 is as follows:
when the actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121 is
depressed, the first locking member 2124 is also depressed to drive
the connecting shaft 201 to move downwardly for a predetermined
distance as dictated by the displacement of the driving end portion
2122 of the actuation pedal 2121. When the actuation end portion
2123 of the actuation pedal 2121 is depressed to its maximum
displacement (i.e. when the resilient member 2126 is compressed to
its maximum extent) the user is unable to further depress the
actuation end portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121. At this
stage, the user should release the depression force to the
actuation pedal 2121 which is then rebounded to its original
position by the resilient member 2126. When the actuation end
portion 2123 of the actuation pedal 2121 is rebounded, the
engagement between the second locking member 2128 and the locking
teeth 204 prevents the connecting shaft 201 from being driven to
move upwardly so as to retain the position thereof. As such, the
user is able to depress the actuation end portion 2123 of the
actuation pedal 2121 for several times so as to incrementally lower
the position of the corresponding transferring wheel 15 until it is
lowered to stand on the ground surface for suspending supporting
the base housing 10 and the outdoor umbrella 70. When the four
transferring wheels 15 are sequentially lowered, the user is able
to transport the outdoor umbrella 70 by the transferring wheels
15.
[0057] It is worth mentioning that the locking members 2124, 2128
are selectively engaged with the locking teeth 204 such that when
the locking members 2124, 2128 are selectively disengaged from the
locking teeth 204, the connecting shaft 201 is pushed upwardly by
the resilient element 203 and the transferring wheel 15 is then
pushed to restore to its original position (i.e. received into the
base housing 10). Accordingly, each of the manual activation units
212 further comprises an adjusting screw 2129 rotatably provided on
the base housing 10 to communicate with the first and the second
locking member 2124, 2128, in such a manner that the adjusting
screw 2129 is adapted to selectively engage and disengage the
locking member 2124, 2128 with and from the locking teeth 204
respectively.
[0058] Moreover, in order further enhance the stability of the base
housing 10, the base housing 10 further comprises a stabilizing
agent filled therewithin for substantially increasing the weight of
the base housing 10. The stabilizing agent is preferably a
predetermined amount of sands or water having a relatively high
density among other objects.
[0059] It is worth mentioning that as a slight alternative of this
third alternative mode, the base housing 10 may further comprise a
supporting panel wherein the transferring wheels 15 are attached
onto the supporting panel. The supporting shaft 201 is connected
with the supporting panel in such a manner that when the supporting
shaft 201 is driven to move longitudinally, the supporting panel is
also driven to move correspondingly and therefore lifting up or
lowering down the transferring wheels 15.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C of the drawings, an
alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the
above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
The first alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment
except the transportation arrangement 20'. According to the first
alternative mode, the transportation arrangement 20' comprises a
plurality of driving units 21' operatively and spacedly provided in
the base housing 10 to mechanically communicate with the
transferring wheels 15 respectively, wherein the driving units 21'
are adapted to be selectively activated to operate the base housing
10 between the idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0061] More specifically, each of the driving units 21' comprises
an adjustment assembly 211' mounted in the receiving cavity 13 and
a manual actuation unit 212' extended from the adjustment assembly
211' out of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual
actuation unit 212' is adapted to be manually and selectively
operated for driving the adjustment assembly 211' to lift up the
base housing 10 with respect to the transferring wheels 15.
[0062] For each of the driving units 21', the adjustment assembly
211' comprises a connecting shaft 201', having a lower end portion
communicating with the corresponding transferring wheel 15,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171 of the
base housing 10, a biasing member 202' outwardly extended from the
connecting shaft 201' within the upper compartment chamber 1711 at
a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of the
base panel 18, and a resilient element 203' disposed between the
base panel 18 and the biasing member 202' to normally exert an
upward urging force toward the connecting shaft 201' so as to
normally retain the corresponding transferring wheel 15 within the
lower compartment chamber 1712.
[0063] According to the first alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211' further comprises a rotary member 205' movably
provided within the driving compartment 171 of the corresponding
seat portion 17 of the base housing 10 to engage with the lower end
portion of the connecting shaft 201'. More specifically, the rotary
member 205' has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, wherein the
rotary member 205' has a threaded inner surface for forming a
plurality of screwing teeth 2051' on the inner surface of the
rotary member 205'. On the other hand, the connecting shaft 201'
further has a plurality of teeth 204' formed thereon to engage with
the threaded inner surface of the rotary member 205', in such a
manner that when the connecting shaft 201' is driven to rotate, the
rotary member 205' is also driven to rotate so as to initiate a
linear movement within the driving compartment 171 of the base
housing 10.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B of the drawings, the driving
assembly 211' further comprises a shaft holder 206' provided on the
upper compartment chamber 1711 of the base housing 10 for retaining
a longitudinal movement of the connecting shaft 201' within the
upper compartment chamber 1711. Thus, when the connecting shaft
201' is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the rotary
member 205' is also driven to rotate in such a manner that the
rotary member 205' travels downwardly and longitudinally along the
connecting shaft 201' to bias against the biasing member 202' which
then lowers the corresponding transferring wheel 15 and compress
the resilient element 203'.
[0065] On the other hand, the manual activation unit 212' comprises
a handle member 2121' extended out of the base housing 10 in a
rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod 2122' extended from
an upper end portion of the connecting shaft 201' to the handling
member 2121'. Thus, when the handle member 2121' is driven to
rotate in a predetermined direction, the connecting shaft 201' is
also driven to rotate for lowering the corresponding transferring
wheel 15 by the descending movement of the rotary member 205'. When
all of the transferring wheels 15 are descended to a position
underneath the base housing 10, the outdoor umbrella is readily
transported by the transferring wheels 15. When the user wishes to
restore the position of the transferring wheel 15, he or she simply
needs to rotate the handle member 2121' in an opposed direction for
screwing the rotary member 205' in that corresponding direction.
Thus, the rotary member 205' is adapted to displace upwardly along
the connecting shaft 201' for receiving into the base housing
10.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a second alternative
mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The second
alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the
transportation arrangement 20''. According to the second
alternative mode, the transportation arrangement 20'' comprises a
plurality of driving units 21'' operatively and spacedly provided
in the base housing 10 to mechanically communicate with the
transferring wheels 15 respectively, wherein the driving units 21''
are adapted to be selectively activated to operate the base housing
10 between the idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0067] Each of the driving units 21'' comprises an adjustment
assembly 211'' mounted in the receiving cavity 13 and a manual
actuation unit 212'' extended from the adjustment assembly 211''
out of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual
actuation unit 212'' is adapted to be manually and selectively
operated for driving the adjustment assembly 211'' to lift up the
base housing 10 with respect to the transferring wheels 15.
[0068] For each of the driving units 21'', the adjustment assembly
211'' comprises a connecting shaft 201'', having a lower end
portion directly connecting with the corresponding transferring
wheel 15, longitudinally extended within the driving compartment
171 of the base housing 10.
[0069] According to the second alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211'' further comprises a rotary member 205'' securely
provided within the driving compartment 171 of the corresponding
seat portion 17 of the base housing 10 to engage with the lower end
portion of the connecting shaft 201''. More specifically, the
rotary member 205'' has a circular, ring-shaped cross section,
wherein the rotary member 205'' has a threaded inner surface for
forming a plurality of screwing teeth 2051'' on the inner surface
of the rotary member 205'. On the other hand, the connecting shaft
201'' further has a plurality of teeth 204'' formed thereon to
engage with the threaded inner surface of the rotary member 205'',
in such a manner that when the connecting shaft 201'' is driven to
rotate, the connecting shaft 201'' also displaces longitudinally
along the driving compartment 171 to initiate a linear movement of
the transferring wheel 15.
[0070] On the other hand, each of the manual actuation unit 212''
comprises a handle member 2121'' extended out of the base housing
10 in a rotatably movable manner, and a actuation rod 2122''
extended from an upper end portion of the connecting shaft 201'' to
the handling member 2121''. Thus, when the handle member 2121'' is
driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the connecting shaft
201'' is also driven to rotate for lowering the corresponding
transferring wheel 15 by the descending movement of the rotary
member 205''.
[0071] When all of the transferring wheels 15 are descended to a
position underneath the base housing 10, the outdoor umbrella is
readily transported by the transferring wheels 15. When the user
wishes to restore the position of the transferring wheel 15, he or
she simply needs to rotate the handle member 2121'' in an opposed
direction for rotating the connecting shaft 201'' in that
corresponding direction, which is then adapted to displace upwardly
along the driving compartment 17 for receiving the transferring
wheel 15 back into the base housing 10 so that the outdoor umbrella
70 is supported by the stationary unit 14.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, an adjustable
rotation base for supporting an outdoor umbrella 70A according to
second preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, in which the adjustable rotation base comprises a base
housing 10A and a transportation arrangement 20A. The outdoor
umbrella 70A is meant to be a regular outdoor umbrella 70A which
comprises a supporting post 71A extended from a ground surface, and
an awning frame extended from the top end portion of the supporting
post 71A.
[0073] The base housing 10A has a bottom side 11A, an upper side
12A for coupling with the supporting post 71A to support the outer
umbrella 70A in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity 13A
indently formed on the bottom side 11A of the base housing 10A,
wherein the base housing 10A comprises at least one stationary unit
14A provided at the bottom side 11A for sitting on the ground
surface in a station manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels
15A rotatably supported at the bottom side 11A of the base housing
10A.
[0074] The transportation arrangement 20A is provided at the base
housing 10A to operate the base housing 10A between an idle mode
and a transportation mode, wherein in the idle mode, the
transferring wheels 15A are suspenedly lifted up to define a
clearance between the transferring wheels 15A and the ground
surface such the base housing 10A is sat on the ground surface via
the stationary unit 14A in a stationary manner, wherein in the
transportation mode, the stationary unit 14A is upwardly lifted to
allow the transferring wheels 15A being sitting on the ground
surface, such that the base housing 10A is adapted to be
transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels
15A.
[0075] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the base housing further has a coupling hole 16A formed
at the upper side 11A of the base housing 10A to communicate with
the receiving cavity 13A, wherein the supporting post 71A of the
outdoor umbrella 70A is coupled with the base housing 10A through
the coupling hole 16A. Each of the stationary units 14A is
preferably embodied as a three-dimensional supporting member
adapted to normally rest on the ground surface.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 9, FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B of the
drawings, the transportation arrangement 20A comprises a plurality
of driving units 21A operatively and spacedly provided in the base
housing 10A to mechanically communicate with the stationary units
14A respectively, wherein the driving units 21A are adapted to be
selectively activated to operate the base housing 10A between the
idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0077] More specifically, each of the driving units 21A comprises
an adjustment assembly 211A mounted in the receiving cavity 13A and
a manual actuation unit 212A extended from the adjustment assembly
211A out of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual
actuation unit 212A is adapted to be manually and selectively
operated for driving the adjustment assembly 211A to lift up the
base housing 10A with respect to the ground surface.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B of the drawings, the base
housing 10A further has a plurality of seat portions 17A formed as
four corner portions of the base housing 10A, wherein the
stationary units 14A and the driving units 21A are coupled at the
corresponding seat portion 17A for selectively operating the base
housing 10A between the idle mode and the transportation mode. Each
of the seat portions 17A is divided into a driving compartment 171A
and a control compartment 172A by a partitioning wall 173A having a
through communication slot 174A, wherein the adjustment assembly
211A and the manual actuation unit 212A are mounted in the driving
compartment 171A and the control compartment 172A respectively and
communicate through the communication slot 174A of the partitioning
wall 173A. According to the second preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the base housing 10A further comprises a base
panel 18A transversely extended between an inner side of the
partitioning wall 173A and an inner side of the opposed sidewall of
the driving compartment 171A so as to further divide the driving
compartment 171A into an upper compartment chamber 1711A for
receiving the adjustment assembly 211A of the corresponding driving
unit 21A, and a lower compartment chamber 1712A for receiving the
stationary unit 14A.
[0079] For each of the driving units 21A, the adjustment assembly
211A comprises a connecting shaft 201A, having a lower end portion
connected with the corresponding stationary unit 14A,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171A of the
base housing 10A, a biasing member 202A outwardly extended from the
connecting shaft 201A within the upper compartment chamber 1711A at
a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of the
base panel 18A, and a resilient element 203A disposed between the
base panel 18A and the biasing member 202A to normally exert an
upward urging force toward the connecting shaft 201A so as to
normally retain the corresponding stationary unit 14A within the
lower compartment chamber 1712A.
[0080] Moreover, each of the adjustment assemblies 211A further
comprises a plurality of locking teeth 204A formed an outer side of
the connecting shaft 201A for engaging with the corresponding
manual actuation unit 212A of the driving unit 21A. Accordingly,
each of the manual actuation units 212A comprises an actuation
pedal 2121A, having a driving end portion 2122A and an actuation
end portion 2123A, extended from the adjustment assembly 211A to
the control compartment 172A of the seat portion 17A through the
communication slot 174A of the partitioning wall 173A, a first and
a second to locking members 2124A, 2128A pivotally and downwardly
extended from the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation
pedal 2121A for selectively engaging with the locking teeth 204A of
the corresponding driving assembly 211A. In order to normally
retain engagement between the locking teeth 204A and the locking
members 2124A, the manual actuation unit 212A further comprises a
plurality of retention springs 2125A mounted within the upper
compartment chamber 1711A of the driving compartment 171A to
normally bias against the locking members 2124A respectively so as
to make the locking members 2124A normally engaging with the
locking teeth 204A for restricting a lateral movement between the
connecting shaft 201A and the actuation pedal 2121A.
[0081] As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B of the drawings, each of
the manual actuation units 212A further comprises a resilient
member 2126A mounted in the control compartment 172A of the
corresponding seat portion 17A of the base housing 10A to normally
exert an upward urging force toward the actuation end portion 2123A
of the actuation pedal 2121A, which is adapted for being stepped on
by a user of the present invention. Thus, when the user steps on
the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation pedal 2121A, the
actuation pedal 2121A is depressed so as to compress the resilient
member 2126A mounted underneath the actuation end portion 2123A of
the actuation pedal 2121A. Conversely, when the depression force is
released (i.e. the user stops stepping onto the actuation pedal
2121A), the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation pedal
2121A is restored to its original position with the resilient
member 2126A decompressed.
[0082] In order to access the driving units 21A from an exterior of
the base housing 10A, the base housing 10A further has a plurality
of wheels control slot 175A formed on the seat portions 17A of the
base housing respectively to communicate with the control
compartments 172A for allowing users to access the driving units
21A via the wheels control slot 175A. In order that the
transportation arrangement 20A does not affect the aesthetic
appearance of the entire outdoor umbrella structure, each of the
manual activation units 212A further comprises a pedal cover 2127A
pivotally mounted to the base housing 10A at a top side edge of the
corresponding wheels control slot 175A in an inwardly flappable
manner, so that the pedal cover 2127A is arranged to normally cover
the corresponding wheels control slot 175A, and when the user
wishes to access the driving units 21A from exterior of the base
housing 10A, he or she needs only to inwardly push the pedal cover
2127A into the control compartment 172A which then allows access to
the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation pedal 2121A. The
user is then able to step onto the actuation end portion 2123A of
the actuation pedal 2121A.
[0083] The operation of each of the driving units 21A is as
follows: when the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation
pedal 2121A is depressed, the first locking member 2124A is also
depressed to drive the connecting shaft 201A to move downwardly for
a predetermined distance as dictated by the displacement of the
driving end portion 2122A of the actuation pedal 2121A. When the
actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation pedal 2121A is
depressed to its maximum displacement (i.e. when the resilient
member 2126A is compressed to its maximum extent) the user is
unable to further depress the actuation end portion 2123A of the
actuation pedal 2121A. At this stage, the user should release the
depression force to the actuation pedal 2121A which is then
rebounded to its original position by the resilient member 2126A.
When the actuation end portion 2123A of the actuation pedal 2121A
is rebounded, the engagement between the second locking member
2128A and the locking teeth 204A prevents the connecting shaft 201A
from being driven move upwardly so as to retain the position
thereof. As such, the user is able to depress the actuation end
portion 2123A of the actuation pedal 2121A for several times so as
to incrementally lower the position of the corresponding stationary
unit 14A until it is lowered to stand on the ground surface for
suspending supporting the base housing 10A and the outdoor umbrella
70A. When the four stationary units 14A are sequentially lowered,
the base housing 10A is arranged to securely stand on the ground
surface (i.e. idle mode).
[0084] It is worth mentioning that the locking members 2124A, 2128A
are selectively engaged with the locking teeth 204A such that when
the locking members 2124A, 2128A are selectively disengaged from
the locking teeth 204A, the connecting shaft 201A is pushed
upwardly by the resilient element 203A and the stationary unit 14A
is then pushed to restore to its original position (i.e. received
into the base housing 10A). Accordingly, each of the manual
activation units 212A further comprises an adjusting screw 2129A
(as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B of the drawings) rotatably
provided on the base housing 10A to connect with the first and the
second locking member 2124A, 2128A, in such a manner that the
adjusting screw 2129A is adapted to selectively engage and
disengage the locking member 2124A, 2128A with and from the locking
teeth 204A respectively. When the stationary units 14A are all
received into the base housing 10A, the transferring wheels 15A are
positioned underneath the stationary units 14A and left to stand on
the ground surface. As a result, a user is able to transport the
outdoor umbrella 70A via the transferring wheels (i.e.
transportation mode).
[0085] Moreover, in order further enhance the stability of the base
housing 10A, the base housing 10A further comprises a stabilizing
agent filled therewithin for substantially increasing the weight of
the base housing 10A. The stabilizing agent is preferably a
predetermined amount of sand or water having a relatively high
density among other objects.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B of the drawings, a first
alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the
above second preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated. The first alternative mode is similar to the preferred
embodiment except the transportation arrangement 20B. According to
the first alternative mode, the transportation arrangement 20B
comprises a plurality of driving units 21B operatively and spacedly
provided in the base housing 10A to mechanically communicate with
the stationary units 14A respectively, wherein the driving units
21B are adapted to be selectively activated to operate the base
housing 10A between the idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0087] More specifically, each of the driving units 21B comprises
an adjustment assembly 211B mounted in the receiving cavity 13A and
a manual actuation unit 212B extended from the adjustment assembly
211B out of the base housing 10A in such a manner that the manual
actuation unit 212B is adapted to be manually and selectively
operated for driving the adjustment assembly 21B to lift up the
base housing 10A with respect to the ground surface.
[0088] For each of the driving units 21B, the adjustment assembly
211B comprises a connecting shaft 201B, having a lower end portion
communicating with the corresponding stationary unit 14A,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171A of the
base housing 10A, a biasing member 202B outwardly extended from the
connecting shaft 201B within the upper compartment chamber 1711A at
a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of the
base panel 18A, and a resilient element 203B disposed between the
base panel 18A and the biasing member 202B to normally exert an
upward urging force toward the connecting shaft 201B so as to
normally retain the corresponding stationary unit 14A within the
lower compartment chamber 1712A.
[0089] According to the first alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211B further comprises a rotary member 205B movably
provided within the driving compartment 171A of the corresponding
seat portion 17A of the base housing 10A to engage with the lower
end portion of the connecting shaft 201B. More specifically, the
rotary member 205B has a circular, ring-shaped cross section,
wherein the rotary member 205B has a threaded inner surface for
forming a plurality of screwing teeth 2051B on the inner surface of
the rotary member 205B. On the other hand, the connecting shaft
201B further has a plurality of teeth 204B formed thereon to engage
with the threaded inner surface of the rotary member 205B, in such
a manner that when the connecting shaft 201B is driven to rotate,
the rotary member 205B is also driven to rotate so as to initiate a
linear movement thereof within the driving compartment 171A of the
base housing 10A.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B of the drawings, the
driving assembly 211B further comprises a shaft holder 206B
provided on the upper compartment chamber 1711A of the base housing
10A for retaining a longitudinal movement of the connecting shaft
201B within the upper compartment chamber 1711A. Thus, when the
connecting shaft 201B is driven to rotate in a predetermined
direction, the rotary member 205B is also driven to rotate in such
a manner that the rotary member 205B travels downwardly and
longitudinally along the connecting shaft 201B to bias against the
biasing member 202B which then lowers the corresponding stationary
unit 14A and compress the resilient element 203B.
[0091] On the other hand, the manual activation unit 212B comprises
a handle member 2121B extended out of the base housing 10A in a
rotatably movable manner, and a actuation rod 2122B extended from
an upper end portion of the connecting shaft 201B to the handling
member 2121B.
[0092] Thus, when the handle member 2121B is driven to rotate in a
predetermined direction, the connecting shaft 201B is also driven
to rotate for lowering the corresponding stationary unit 14A by the
descending movement of the rotary member 205B. When all of the
stationary units 14A are descended to a position underneath the
base housing 10A, the outdoor umbrella 70A is arranged to securely
stand on the ground surface.
[0093] Conversely, when the user wishes to restore the position of
the stationary units 14A, he or she simply needs to rotate the
handle member 2121B in an opposed direction for screwing the rotary
member 205B in that corresponding direction. Thus, the rotary
member 205B is adapted to displace upwardly along the connecting
shaft 201B for receiving into the base housing 10A with the
assistance of the resilient member 2126B. When all the stationary
units 14A are received into the base housing 10A so that the
transferring wheels 15A are positioned underneath the stationary
units 14A, the outdoor umbrella is readily transported by the
transferring wheels 15A.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 12 of the drawings, a second alternative
mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The second
alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the
transportation arrangement 20C. According to the second alternative
mode, the transportation arrangement 20C comprises a plurality of
driving units 21C operatively and spacedly provided in the base
housing 10A to mechanically communicate with the stationary units
14A respectively, wherein the driving units 21C are adapted to be
selectively activated to operate the base housing 10A between the
idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0095] Each of the driving units 21C comprises an adjustment
assembly 211C mounted in the receiving cavity 13A and a manual
actuation unit 212C extended from the adjustment assembly 211C out
of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual actuation
unit 212C is adapted to be manually and selectively operated for
driving the adjustment assembly 211C to lift up the base housing
10A with respect to the ground surface.
[0096] For each of the driving units 21C, the adjustment assembly
211C comprises a connecting shaft 201C, having a lower end portion
directly connecting with the corresponding stationary unit 14A,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171A of the
base housing 10A.
[0097] According to the second alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211C further comprises a rotary member 205C securely
provided within the driving compartment 171A of the corresponding
seat portion 17A of the base housing 10A to engage with the lower
end portion of the connecting shaft 201C. More specifically, the
rotary member 205C has a circular, ring-shaped cross section,
wherein the rotary member 205C has a threaded inner surface for
forming a plurality of screwing teeth 2051C on the inner surface of
the rotary member 205C. On the other hand, the connecting shaft
201C further has a plurality of teeth 204C formed thereon to engage
with the threaded inner surface of the rotary member 205C, in such
a manner that when the connecting shaft 201C is driven to rotate,
the connecting shaft 201C also displaces longitudinally along the
driving compartment 171A to initiate a linear movement of the
stationary unit 14A.
[0098] On the other hand, each of the manual actuation unit 212C
comprises a handle member 2121C extended out of the base housing
10A in a rotatably movable manner, and a actuation rod 2122C
extended from an upper end portion of the connecting shaft 201C to
the handling member 2121C. Thus, when the handle member 2121C is
driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the connecting shaft
201C is also driven to rotate for lowering the corresponding
stationary unit 14A by the descending movement of the connecting
shaft 201C.
[0099] When all of the stationary units 14A are descended to a
position underneath the base housing 10, the outdoor umbrella is
securely supported by the stationary units 14A and is arranged to
securely stand on a ground surface (i.e. the idle mode). When the
user wishes to restore the position of the stationary unit 14A, he
or she simply needs to rotate the handle member 2121C in an opposed
direction for rotating the connecting shaft 201C in that
corresponding direction, which is then adapted to displace upwardly
along the driving compartment 17C for receiving the stationary
units 14A back into the base housing 10A.
[0100] When all the stationary units 14A are received into the base
housing 10A so that the transferring wheels 15A are positioned
underneath the stationary units 14A, the outdoor umbrella is
readily transported by the transferring wheels 15A (i.e. the
transportation mode).
[0101] Referring to FIG. 13 of the drawings, a third alternative
mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the above second
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The
third alternative mode is similar to the second preferred
embodiment except the transportation arrangement 20D, and that the
stationary unit 14D is integrally incorporated with the base
housing 10A to become a supporting frame for the base housing
10A.
[0102] According to the third alternative mode, the transportation
arrangement 20D comprises a driving unit 21D operatively and
spacedly provided in the base housing 10A, wherein the driving unit
21D is adapted to be selectively activated to operate the base
housing 10A between the idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0103] The driving unit 21D comprises an adjustment assembly 211D
mounted in the receiving cavity 13A and a manual actuation unit
212D extended from the adjustment assembly 211D out of the base
housing 10A in such a manner that the manual actuation unit 212D is
adapted to be manually and selectively operated for driving the
adjustment assembly 211D to lift up the base housing 10A with
respect to the ground surface.
[0104] The adjustment assembly 211D comprises a connecting shaft
201D connecting with the base housing 10A and longitudinally
extending within the driving compartment 171A of the base housing
10A.
[0105] Moreover, the adjustment assembly 211D further comprises a
plurality of rotary members 205D securely provided within the
driving compartment 171A of the corresponding seat portion 17A of
the base housing 10A to engage with the connecting shaft 201D. Each
of the rotary members 205D has a circular, ring-shaped cross
section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of
screwing teeth on the inner surface of the respective rotary member
205D. On the other hand, the connecting shaft 201D further has a
plurality of teeth 2051D formed thereon to engage with the threaded
inner surface of the rotary member 205D, in such a manner that when
the connecting shaft 201D is driven to rotate, the connecting shaft
201D also displaces longitudinally along the driving compartment
171A to initiate a linear movement stationary unit 14D.
[0106] On the other hand, each of the manual actuation unit 212D
comprises a handle member 2121D extended out of the base housing
10A in a rotatably movable manner, an actuation rod 2122D extended
from the connecting shaft 201D to the handling member 2121D, and an
actuation rotor 2130D coupling with the actuation rod 2122D and the
rotary members 205D in such a manner that when the actuation rod
2122D is driven to rotate about its own axis, the actuation rotor
2130D is arranged to be driven to rotate about the longitudinal
axis of the connecting shaft 201D. Thus, when the handle member
2121D is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the
actuation rod 2122D is also driven to rotate about its own axis
which then drives the rotary members 205D to rotate about the
longitudinal axis of the connecting shaft 201D. As such, the
connecting shaft 201D, which is coupling with the rotary members
205D, is also driven to move upwardly and longitudinally to bias
against the supporting frame as the stationary unit 14D. Therefore,
the connecting shaft 201D is adapted to uplift the stationary unit
14D and eventually the entire base housing 10A with respective to
the ground surface so as to allow the transferring wheels 15A to be
positioned underneath the base housing 10A (i.e. transportation
mode). At this transportation mode, a user is able to transport the
outdoor umbrella 70A via the transferring wheels 15A.
[0107] Conversely, when the handle member 2121D is rotated at an
opposed direction, the actuation rod 2122D is also driven to rotate
about its own axis which then drives the rotary members 205D to
rotate about the longitudinal axis of the connecting shaft 201D in
the corresponding direction as opposed to lifting up the base
housing 10A. As such, the connecting shaft 201D, which is coupling
with the rotary members 205D, is also driven to move downwardly and
longitudinally for releasing an upward urging force towards the
supporting frame as the stationary unit 14D. Therefore, the entire
base housing 10A and the stationary unit 14D is gradually lowered
to sit on the ground surface (i.e. the idle mode) for securely
supporting the outdoor umbrella 70A.
[0108] Referring to FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B of the drawings, a fourth
alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The
fourth alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment
except the transportation arrangement 20E.
[0109] According to the fourth alternative mode, the transportation
arrangement 20E comprises a plurality of driving units 21E
operatively and spacedly provided in the base housing 10 to
mechanically communicate with the stationary units 14 respectively,
wherein the driving units 21E are adapted to be selectively
activated to operate the base housing 10 between the idle mode and
the transportation mode.
[0110] Each of the driving units 21E comprises an adjustment
assembly 211E mounted in the receiving cavity 13 and a manual
actuation unit 212E extended from the adjustment assembly 211E out
of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual actuation
unit 212E is adapted to be manually and selectively operated for
driving the adjustment assembly 211E to lift up the base housing 10
with respect to the ground surface.
[0111] For each of the driving units 21E, the adjustment assembly
211E comprises a connecting shaft 201E, having a lower end portion
directly connecting with the corresponding transferring wheels 15,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171 of the
base housing 10.
[0112] According to the fourth alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211E further comprises a rotary member 205E securely
provided within the driving compartment 171 of the corresponding
seat portion 17 of the base housing 10 to engage with the
connecting shaft 201E. The rotary member 205E has a circular,
ring-shaped cross section, wherein the rotary member 205E has a
threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth
2051E on the inner surface of the rotary member 205E. On the other
hand, the connecting shaft 201E further has a plurality of teeth
204E formed thereon to engage with the threaded inner surface of
the rotary member 205E, in such a manner that when the connecting
shaft 201E is driven to rotate, the connecting shaft 201E also
displaces longitudinally along the driving compartment 171 to
initiate a linear movement of the transferring wheels 15.
[0113] On the other hand, each of the manual actuation unit 212E
comprises a handle member 2121E extended out of the base housing 10
in a rotatably movable manner, and an actuation member 2122E
rotatably mounted on the base housing 10 to engage with the rotary
member 205E of the adjustment assembly 211E. When the handle member
2121E is drive to rotate, the actuation member 2122E is also driven
to rotate so as to drive the connecting shaft 201E to displace
linearly along the driving compartment 171 for lowering the
corresponding transferring wheel 15. The resilient element 203E is
disposed between the base panel 18 and the biasing member 202E to
normally exert an upward urging force toward the connecting shaft
201E so as to normally retain the corresponding transferring wheel
15 within the lower compartment chamber 1712.
[0114] The transportation arrangement 20E further comprises a main
actuation handle 25E movably extended from the base housing 10 and
a plurality of actuating members 26E operatively connected between
the main actuation handle 25E and the four driving units 21E in
such a manner that when the main actuation handle 25E is driven to
rotate, the actuating members 26E are also driven to operate the
driving units 21E in the above-mentioned manner so as to operate
the main housing 10 idle mode and the transportation mode by one
single main actuating handle 25E.
[0115] When all of the transferring wheels 15 are descended to a
position underneath the base housing 10, the outdoor umbrella is
movably supported by the transferring wheels 15. When the user
wishes to restore the position of the transferring wheels 15, he or
she simply needs to rotate the handle member 2121E in an opposed
direction for rotating the connecting shaft 201E in that
corresponding direction, which is then adapted to displace upwardly
along the driving compartment 17 for receiving the transferring
wheels 15 back into the base housing 10. The stationary units 14E
in this fourth alternative mode are embodied as the bottom surfaces
of the base housing 10.
[0116] Referring to FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B of the drawings, a fifth
alternative mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The
fifth alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment
except the transportation arrangement 20F.
[0117] The transportation arrangement 20F comprises a plurality of
driving units 21F operatively and spacedly provided in the base
housing 10 to mechanically communicate with the stationary units 14
respectively, wherein the driving units 21F are adapted to be
selectively activated to operate the base housing 10 between the
idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0118] Each of the driving units 21F comprises an adjustment
assembly 211F mounted in the receiving cavity 13 and a manual
actuation unit 212F extended from the adjustment assembly 211F out
of the base housing 10 in such a manner that the manual actuation
unit 212F is adapted to be manually and selectively operated for
driving the adjustment assembly 211F to lift up the base housing 10
with respect to the ground surface.
[0119] For each of the driving units 21F, the adjustment assembly
211F comprises a connecting shaft 201F, having a lower end portion
directly connecting with the corresponding transferring wheels 15,
longitudinally extended within the driving compartment 171 of the
base housing 10.
[0120] According to the fifth alternative mode, the adjustment
assembly 211F further comprises a rotary member 205F securely
provided within the driving compartment 171 of the corresponding
seat portion 17 of the base housing 10 to engage with the
connecting shaft 201F. On the other hand, each of the manual
actuation units 212F comprises an actuation member 2122F,
preferably embodied as a driving chain, movably mounted on the base
housing 10 to engage with the rotary member 205F of the adjustment
assembly 211F. When the actuation member 2122F is driven to move,
the connecting shaft 201F is also driven to displace linearly along
the driving compartment 171 for lowering the corresponding
transferring wheel 15. The resilient element 203F is disposed
between the base panel 18 and the biasing member 202F to normally
exert an upward urging force toward the connecting shaft 201F so as
to normally retain the corresponding transferring wheel 15 within
the lower compartment chamber 1712.
[0121] The transportation arrangement 20F further comprises a main
actuation handle 25F movably extended from the base housing 10 and
a plurality of actuating chains 26F operatively connected between
the main actuation handle 25F and the four driving units 21F in
such a manner that when the main actuation handle 25F is driven to
rotate, the actuating chains 26F are also driven to operate the
driving units 21F in the above-mentioned manner so as to operate
the main housing 10 idle mode and the transportation mode by one
single main actuating handle 25F.
[0122] When all of the transferring wheels 15 are descended to a
position underneath the base housing 10, the outdoor umbrella is
movably supported by the transferring wheels 15. When the user
wishes to restore the position of the transferring wheels 15, he or
she simply needs to rotate the main handle member 25F in an opposed
direction for rotating the connecting shaft 201F in that
corresponding direction, which is then adapted to displace upwardly
along the driving compartment 17 for receiving the transferring
wheels 15 back into the base housing 10. The stationary units 14 in
this fifth alternative mode are embodied as the bottom surfaces of
the base housing 10.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 16 of the drawings, a sixth alternative
mode of the adjustable rotation base according to the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in
which the adjustable rotation base comprises a base housing 10G and
a transportation arrangement 20G.
[0124] The base housing 10G has a bottom side 11G, an upper side
12G for coupling with the supporting post to support the outer
umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity 13G indently
formed on the bottom side 11G of the base housing 10B, wherein the
base housing 10G comprises a stationary unit 14G provided at the
bottom side 11G for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary
manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels 15G rotatably
supported at the bottom side 11G of the base housing 10G.
[0125] The transportation arrangement 20G is provided at the base
housing 10G to operate the base housing 10G between an idle mode
and a transportation mode, wherein in the idle mode, the
transferring wheels 15G are suspenedly lifted up to define a
clearance between the transferring wheels 15G and the ground
surface such the base housing 10G is sat on the ground surface via
the stationary unit 14G in a stationary manner, wherein in the
transportation mode, the stationary unit 14G is upwardly and
concurrently lifted to allow the transferring wheels 15G being
sitting on the ground surface, such that the base housing 10G is
adapted to be transported on the ground surface via the
transferring wheels 15G.
[0126] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the base housing 10G further has a coupling hole 16G
formed at the upper side 11G of the base housing 10G to communicate
with the receiving cavity 13G, wherein the supporting post of the
outdoor umbrella is coupled with the base housing 100 through the
coupling hole 16G. The stationary unit 14G is preferably embodied
as bottom surfaces of the base housing 10G.
[0127] Moreover, the base housing 100 further comprises a rotary
support 19G rotatably mounted at the receiving cavity 13G of the
base housing 10G, in such a manner that the outdoor umbrella is
adapted to couple with the rotary support 19G via the coupling hole
16G. Moreover, the base housing 10G further comprises a control
pedal 191G extended from the rotary support 19G to an exterior of
the base housing 10G, so as to selectively control a rotation of
the rotary support 19G. Thus, when the control pedal 191G is
actuated, the rotary support 19G is rotatable with respective to
the base housing 10G for adjusting an orientation of the outdoor
umbrella. Accordingly, a rotational movement of the rotary support
19G is locked up at the base housing 100 unless a stepping force is
applied at the control pedal 191G. Therefore, the user is able to
step at the control pedal 191G to release the locked rotary support
19G to turn the outdoor umbrella at the desired orientation.
[0128] According to the sixth alternative mode, referred to FIG. 16
and FIG. 17 of the drawings, the transportation arrangement 20G
comprises a driving unit operatively provided in the base housing
10G to mechanically communicate with the transferring wheels 15G
respectively, wherein the driving unit are adapted to be
selectively activated to operate the base housing 10G between the
idle mode and the transportation mode.
[0129] The driving unit of the transportation arrangement 20G
comprises an adjustment assembly 21G mounted in the receiving
cavity 13G and a manual actuation unit 22G extended from the
adjustment assembly 21G out of the base housing 100 in such a
manner that the manual actuation unit 22G is adapted to be manually
and selectively operated for driving the adjustment assembly 21G to
lift up the base housing 100 with respect to the transferring
wheels 15G.
[0130] According to the sixth alternative mode, referred to FIG. 16
and FIG. 17 of the drawings, the base housing 10G further comprises
a plurality of seat portions 17G formed in the receiving cavity 13G
of the base housing 10G, wherein the transferring wheels 15G and
the transportation arrangement 20G are coupled at the corresponding
seat portions 17G for selectively operating the base housing 10G
between the idle mode and the transportation mode, wherein each of
the seat portions 17G further comprises a control compartment 171G,
a plurality of transferring wheel receiving compartments 173G and a
plurality of driving compartments 172G communicating the control
compartment 171G with the respective transferring wheel receiving
compartments 173G respectively, wherein the adjustment assembly 21G
and the manual actuation unit 22G are mounted in the driving
compartments 172G and the control compartment 171G respectively and
communicating with each other, and the transferring wheels 15G are
provided in the transferring wheel receiving compartments 173G
respectively.
[0131] Referred to FIGS. 17, 18A and 18B of the drawings, the
adjustment assembly 21G comprises a transferring magnitude unit
211G arranged in the control compartment 171G, and a leverage
driving unit 212G arranged in the driving compartments respectively
and pivotally coupling with the transferring magnitude unit 211G.
The transferring magnitude unit 211G comprises a driving angle gear
2111G arranged in the control compartment 171G, and a transferring
magnitude angle gear 2112G coupling with the driving angle gear
2111G by a driving rod 2113G transversely provided in the control
compartment 171B. As shown in FIG. 17, the transferring magnitude
angle gear 2112G is extended parallel to the driving angle gear
2111G, wherein the driving rod 2113G is perpendicularly coupled
between the transferring magnitude angle 2112G and the driving
angle gear 2111G end-to-end to transmit the rotational force in a
directional manner.
[0132] The leverage driving unit 212G comprises a central hub 2124G
slidably coupled with the transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G
and a plurality of levers 2120G supported in the corresponding
driving compartment 172G to pivotally and radially coupled with the
central hub 2124G. Accordingly, when the manual actuation unit 22G
is operated for generating a rotational force, the central hub
2124G is lifted upwardly to drop down the transferring wheels 15G
at the transportation mode.
[0133] Accordingly, each of the levers 2120G has an inner pivot end
pivotally coupled with the central hub 2124G and an outer end
coupling with the respective transferring wheel 15G, wherein each
of the levers 2120G is pivotally coupled with the base housing 10G
between the inner pivot end and the outer end of the lever
2120G.
[0134] Each of the levers 2120G has an inclined lower end portion
connected with the corresponding transferring wheel 15G and an
upper end portion movably coupled with the central hub 2124G to be
driven by the transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G in a movably
bolt manner. Accordingly, when the upper end portion of each of the
levers 2120G is positioned horizontally, the lower end portion of
the respective lever 2120G is upwardly and inclinedly extended to
suspendedly support the transferring wheel 15G. Such that the
leverage driving units 212G are driven by the transferring
magnitude unit 211G to selectively retain the corresponding
transferring wheel 15G for the idle mode and the transportation
mode. More specifically, the driving compartments 172G of these
seat portions 17G are formed at the base housing 10G in
three-cornered manner, and the leverage driving units 212G are
spacedly and pivotally provided at the driving compartments 172G
respectively. More specifically, each lever 2120G of the leverage
driving units 212G is mounted on the bottom side 11G by a pin 2125G
to form a pivot point of each of the levers 2120G.
[0135] On the other hand, the manual activation unit 22G comprises
a handle member 221G extended out of the base housing 10G in a
rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod 222G transversely
extended from the handle member 221G and having a lower end portion
to detachably engage with the driving angle gear 2111G, in such a
manner that when the handle member 221G is driven to rotate in a
predetermined direction as a hand crank action to generate the
rotational force, the driving angle gear 2111G is also driven for
lowering the corresponding transferring wheel 15G by the
corresponding transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G and the
corresponding leverage driving unit 212G to allow the
transportation arrangement 200 to be in the transportation mode;
and when the handle member 221G is driven to rotate in an opposed
direction when the transportation arrangement 200 is in the
transportation mode, the leverage driving units 212G are driven by
the transferring magnitude unit 211G respectively to receive the
corresponding transferring wheel 15G into the base housing 10G and
restore the transportation arrangement 20G at the idle mode. More
specifically, a control compartment cover 2123G is detachably
covered on the control compartment 171G when the handle member 221G
is detached from the driving angle gear 2111G.
[0136] In other words, when the handle member 221G is driven to
rotate by the user, the rotational force of the handle member 221G
is transferred to the transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G
through the driving angle gear 2111G and the driving rod 2113G, so
as to drive the transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G. Once the
transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G is rotated, the central hub
2124G is driven to slide upwardly to pivotally lift up the
corresponding ends of the levers 2120G. As a result, the
transferring wheels 15G are dropped downwardly by the pivotal
movements of the levers 2120G until the transferring wheels 15G
ground on the surface to lift up the base housing 100. Likewise, by
applying an opposed rotational force at the handle member 221G, the
transferring magnitude angle gear 2112G is rotated at an opposite
direction such that the central hub 2124G is driven to slide
downwardly to pivotally drop down the corresponding ends of the
levers 2120G. Therefore, the transferring wheels 15G are lifted
upwardly by the pivotal movements of the levers 2120G and are
returned back into the base housing 100. It is worth to mention
that the magnitude angle gear 2112G has an outer threaded portion
engaging with an inner threaded portion of the central hub 2124G
such that when the magnitude angle gear 2112G is rotated, the
central hub 2124G will be correspondingly driven to slide along the
magnitude angle gear 2112G. Therefore, the central hub 2124G is
slid upwardly along the magnitude angle gear 2112G to drop down the
transferring wheels 15G or is slid downwardly along the magnitude
angle gear 2112G to lift up the transferring wheels 15G.
[0137] Thus, when the handle member 221G is driven to rotate in a
predetermined direction, the driving angle gear 2111G is also
driven to rotate for lowering the corresponding transferring wheel
15G by the engagement of the transferring magnitude angle gear
2112G. When all of the transferring wheels 15G are descended to a
position underneath the base housing 10G, the outdoor umbrella is
set to be transported by the transferring wheels 15G. When the user
wishes to restore the position of the transferring wheel 15B, he or
she simply needs to rotate the handle member 221G in an opposed
direction for screwing the transferring magnitude unit 211G in that
corresponding direction. Thus, the transferring wheels 15G are
adapted to displace upwardly for receiving into the base housing
10G.
[0138] Referred to FIG. 19 of the drawings, the transportation
arrangement 20G further comprises a pull seat 23G provided at an
upper portion of the base housing 10G, wherein the pull seat 23G
comprises a pull member 231G rotatably arranged therein to pull the
base housing 10G to any directions when the transportation
arrangement 20G is in the transportation mode, and a seat cover
232G detachably covered on the pull seat 23G for hiding the pull
member 231G in the pull seat 23G of the base housing 10G when the
transportation arrangement 20G is in the idle mode.
[0139] Referring to FIG. 20 to FIG. 22 of the drawings, an outdoor
umbrella according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated, in which the outdoor umbrella comprises
an awning frame 10H, a supporting shaft 2014, and an adjustable
rotation base 30H.
[0140] The supporting shaft 20H is arranged to support the awning
frame 10H, wherein the supporting shaft 20H comprises a rotatable
shaft body 21H having a hollow structure to define a shaft cavity
22H therein.
[0141] On the other hand, the adjustable rotation base 30H
comprises a base housing 31H, and a rotation arrangement 32H.
[0142] The base housing 31H is arranged to couple with the
supporting shaft 20H to support the awning frame 10H in an upright
manner.
[0143] The rotation arrangement 32H comprises a base shaft 321H, an
engaging head 322H, and an actuation unit 323H. The base shaft 321H
is upwardly extended from the base housing 31H, and is arranged to
be received in the shaft cavity 22H of the rotatable shaft body
21H.
[0144] The engaging head 322H is received in the shaft cavity 22H
of the rotatable shaft body 21H, and comprises a plurality of first
engaging teeth 3221H formed on the base shaft 321H, and a plurality
of second engaging teeth 3222H formed on a sidewall of the shaft
cavity 22H of the rotatable shaft body 21H for engaging with the
first engaging teeth 3221H.
[0145] The actuation unit 323H is extended from the engaging head
322H in such a manner that when the actuation unit 323H is
actuated, the second engaging teeth 3222H is adjustably driven to
rotate with respective to the first engaging teeth 3221H, so as to
impart a controlled relative rotational movement between the
rotatable shaft body 21H and the base shaft 321H for allowing the
supporting shaft 20H to rotate with respective to the adjustable
rotation base 30H. As such, the orientation of the supporting shaft
and the awning frame 10H can be freely and controllably
adjusted.
[0146] According to the seventh preferred embodiment of the present
invention, and awning frame 10H is a typical awning frame of a
typical outdoor umbrella, which may includes a central hub and a
plurality of an awning ribs radially and outwardly extended from
the central hub for supporting an awning fabric on the awning
ribs.
[0147] The base housing 31H has a bottom side 311H, an upper side
312H for coupling with the supporting shaft 20H to support the
outdoor umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity
formed within the base housing 31H. Moreover, the base housing 31H
further has a through slot 314H formed on the upper side 312H for
allowing the rotatably shaft body 21H to rotatably coupled with the
base shaft 321H and the base housing 31H through the through slot
314H.
[0148] The engaging head 322H comprises a first gear unit 3223H
mounted on top of the base shaft 321H, wherein the first engaging
teeth 3221H is formed as the teeth of the first gear unit 3223H for
engaging with the second engaging teeth 3222H. Note that the first
gear unit 3223H is mounted on a top portion of the base shaft 321H
in a stationary manner. As a result, the first engaging teeth 3221H
is therefore also stationary. When a rotation force is applied to
the first gear unit 3223H, the object from which the rotational
force applies would be rotated in reverse direction as a result of
action and reaction under simple physics theory.
[0149] On the other hand, the engaging head 322H further comprises
a second gear unit 3224H provided within the shaft cavity 22H of
the rotatable shaft body 21H, wherein the second engaging teeth
3222H is formed as the teeth of the second gear unit 3224H. The
second gear unit 3224H is provided in the shaft cavity 22H at a
position aligning with the first gear unit 3223H via a gear housing
35H so that the first gear unit 3223H is normally engaged to the
second gear unit 3224H. As a result, when the second gear unit
3224H is driven to rotate, the rotational movement will be
transferred to the first gear unit 3223H, which is stationary
whatsoever. Then, the theory of action and the reaction makes the
second gear unit 3224H to rotate, wherein the rotational speed and
the extent of rotation is directly corresponding to the manner in
which the second gear unit 3224H is actuated.
[0150] The actuation unit 323H according to this seventh preferred
embodiment may take a wide variety of different alternatives. The
goal is to actuate the second gear unit 3224H for produce a
relative motion between the first gear unit 3223H and the second
gear unit 3224H. As such, the actuation unit 323H can be designed
for use with a user's hand or a user's foot.
[0151] Referring to FIG. 20 to FIG. 22 of the drawings, the
actuation unit 323H comprises an actuating handle 3231H rotatably
connected with the second gear unit 3224H for driving the second
gear unit 3224H to rotate about a transverse axis of the base shaft
321H. In this particular embodiment, the first and the second gear
unit 3223H, 3224H form a worm and wheel set gear unit for
transforming driving force through 90.degree.. In other words, a
rotational movement of the second gear unit 3224H about a
transverse axis would impart a rotational force on the part of the
first gear unit 3223H, which is stationary. The theory of action
and reaction allows the rotational force to be transferred to the
rotatable shaft body 21H, rendering rotational movement on the part
of the rotatable shaft 21H about its longitudinal axis.
[0152] The adjustable rotation base further comprises a plurality
of transportation wheels rotatably provided at a bottom side 311H
of the base housing 31H so as to facilitate easy transportation of
the adjustable rotation base.
[0153] As an alternative mode (FIG. 23), the actuating unit 323I
comprises an actuating pedal 3231I extended out of the rotatable
shaft 21I and pivotally connected with respective to the rotatable
shaft 21I, and a unidirectional gear unit 3232I connecting between
the actuating pedal 3231I and the second gear unit 3224I, wherein
the unidirectional gear unit 3232I is arranged to transform a
downward pivotal movement to a transverse rotational movement of
the second gear unit 3224I while stalling the transfer of movement
from the actuating pedal 3231I to the second gear unit 3224I while
the pedal is moving in an upward pivotal movement. When the
actuating pedal 3231I is stepped on by the user, the downward
pivotal motion thereof will drive the second gear unit 3232I to
rotate at the transverse axis of the rotatable shaft 21I, so as to
impart a rotational movement to the rotatable shaft 21I in the same
manner described above.
[0154] Referring to FIG. 24 to FIG. 26 of the drawings, a base
structure for supporting an outdoor umbrella 70J having a
supporting post 71J according to an eighth preferred embodiment of
the present invention is illustrated, in which the base structure
comprises a base frame 10J, a plurality of base housings 20J, and a
reinforcing arrangement 30J.
[0155] Each of the plurality of base housings 20J is adapted for
being filled with a predetermined mass medium, such as water or
sand, for substantially increasing a weight and a density of the
respective base housing 20J, wherein each of the base housings 20J
is detachably connected with the base frame 10J and with an
adjacent base housing 20J so as to allow a user to conveniently
assemble and disassemble the base housings 20J for forming the base
structure. In other words, when the base housings 20J are fully
filled with the mass medium, the base housings 20J would have
substantial weight for providing a secure base support for the
outdoor umbrella extended from the base structure of the present
invention.
[0156] Moreover, each of the base housings 20J has a receiving
cavity 21J formed on a corresponding position of the base housing
in such a manner that when the base housings 20J are assembled to
form the base structure, the receiving cavities 21J of the base
housings 20J form a support cavity 22J, wherein the supporting post
71J of the outdoor umbrella 70J is adapted for being detachably
received and supported in the support cavity 22J so as to be
securely supported by the base housings 20J filled with the mass
medium, such as water or sand. Moreover, the reinforcing
arrangement 30J connects the base housings 20J for reinforcing a
structural integrity of the base structure for the outdoor umbrella
70J.
[0157] According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention,
each of the base housings 20J comprises a housing body 23J having a
filler cavity 231J formed therein, wherein the housing body 23J has
a substantially hollow triangular structure for allowing the mass
medium to be filled into the filler cavity 231J. Thus, each of the
base housings 20J further comprises a filler inlet 24J formed on
the housing body 23J to communicate the filler cavity 231J with an
exterior of the housing body 23J so as to allow a user to fill the
mass medium into the filler cavity 231J through the filler inlet
24J. Obviously, the mass medium filled into the filler cavity 231J
is allowed to be offloaded from the filler cavity 231J through a
filler outlet 25J. As shown in FIG. 24 to FIG. 25 of the drawings,
each of the base housings 20J has a top surface 201J, a bottom
surface 202J, and a plurality of side surfaces 203J for forming a
substantially three-dimensional structure having the triangular
cross section. According to this particular preferred embodiment,
the filler inlet 24J of each of the base housings 20J is formed on
the top surface 201J for allowing the user to fill the mass medium
via the filler inlet 24J. On the other hand, the filler outlet 25J
is provided on one of the side surfaces 203J of the corresponding
base housing 20J for allowing the mass medium to be drained out of
the filler cavity 231J.
[0158] The base frame 10J comprises a plurality of elongated frame
members 11J connected with each other to form a secure frame
structure for accommodating the base housings 20J. In this
particular embodiment of the present invention, each of the frame
members 11J has a predetermined cross section to define at least
one frame platform 111J for engaging with the respective base
housing 20J. As shown in FIG. 26 of the drawings, each of the frame
members 11J has an elongated mid portion 112J and two elongated
side portions 113J having L-shaped cross section for defining the
frame platform 111J.
[0159] Each of the base housings 20J further has an elongated
engaging slot 24J indently formed on the bottom surface 202J of the
base housing, wherein a width of the engaging slot 24J
corresponding with a width of the elongated mid portion 112J of the
corresponding frame member 11J, so that the frame member 11J is
capable of being fittedly received in the engaging slot 24J while
the two elongated side portions 113J of the frame member 11J are
extended to bias against the bottom surface 202J of the respective
base housing 20J in the vicinity of the engaging slot 24J. A
plurality of connectors 80J can be used for fastening the frame
member 11J to the base housing 20J within the engaging slot
24J.
[0160] Note that a thickness of the bottom surface 202J of each of
the base housings 20J is substantially increased at the positions
where the connectors 80J are fastened so as to prevent the
fastening procedure from breaking the respective base housing 20J
and leakage of the mass medium through the punctured area caused by
the connectors 80J.
[0161] According to this particular embodiment of the present
invention, the base frame 10J comprises two frame members 11J
arranged to have a predetermined angle of inclination of 90.degree.
so as to define a cross structure. In order to allow fit engagement
between the two frame members 11J, one of the frame members 11J
further has a through slot 114J formed thereon wherein the other
frame member 11J is allowed to pass through the through slot 114J
for forming the predetermined angle of inclination between the two
frame members 11J. When the frame members 11J are connected with
the base housings 20J, the base housings 20J are grouped and
substantially reinforced to support the supporting post 71J of the
outdoor umbrella 70J.
[0162] The reinforcing arrangement 30J comprises a plurality of
reinforcing members 31J provided on the bottom surfaces 202J of the
base housings 20J, wherein each of the reinforcing members 31J is
connected across a boundary of each two adjacent base housings 20J
so as to substantially restrict any collateral movement between
each two adjacent base housings 20J. Accordingly, each of the base
housing 20J further has a plurality of reinforcing slots 15J
indently and spacedly formed on the bottom surface 202J, wherein
the reinforcing slot 15J of each of the base housings 20J is
aligned with a corresponding reinforcing slot 15J of an adjacent
base housing so that when the base housings 20J are connected to
the base frame 10J, the aligned reinforcing slots 15J of each two
base housings 20J is arranged to be fittedly connected with a
reinforcing member 31J so as to allow the reinforcing member 31J to
connect across a boundary of each two adjacent base housings
20J.
[0163] A plurality of connectors 80J is used to connect the
reinforcing members 31J to the base housings 20J. Thus, a thickness
of the bottom surface 202J of each of the base housings 20J is also
substantially increased at the positions where the connectors 80J
are fastened so as to prevent the fastening procedure from breaking
the respective base housing 20J and leakage of the mass medium
through the punctured area caused by the connectors 80J.
[0164] The reinforcing arrangement 30J further comprises a
plurality of engagement teeth 32J formed on each of the base
housings 20J, and contains a plurality of engagement slots 33J
indently formed on the base housings 20J at a position aligning
with the engagement teeth 32J of the adjacent base housing 20J, so
that when the base housing 20J are connected by the base frame 10J,
each of the engagement teeth 32J is arranged to securely engage
with the corresponding engagement slot 33J for further restricting
a collateral movement between two adjacent base housings 22J.
[0165] Furthermore, the reinforcing arrangement 30J further
comprises a plurality of supporting members 34J spacedly provided
at the support cavity 22J so as to support the supporting post 71J
of the outdoor umbrella 70J at the support cavity 22J.
[0166] The base structure of the present invention further
comprises a plurality of wheels 40J rotatably provided at bottom
side of the base housings 20J for allowing easy transportation of
the base structure. The wheels 40J can be connected with the base
frame 10J or the bottom surfaces 202J of the base housings 20J for
rotatably supporting the base structure.
[0167] Referring to FIG. 27 of the drawings, an alternative mode of
the base structure according to the above seventh preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. According to
the alternative mode to the eighth preferred embodiment of the
present invention, each (except one at the bottom) of the base
housings 20K is put on top of another base housing 20K so as to
form a stack of base housings 20K, wherein the base frame 10K
comprises a plurality of frame members 11K provided between each
two adjacent base housings 20K so as to support the base housings
20K to form the base structure having sufficient strength and
weight to support the outdoor umbrella 70J. The frame members 11K
provided between each two adjacent base housings 20K are
conveniently grouped as forming a divider frame 111K, so that the
base frame 10K comprises a plurality of divider frames 111K each of
which formed by a predetermined number of frame members 11K for
providing support between each two base housings 20K.
[0168] In this particular alternative mode, each of the base
housing 20K has a top surface 201K, a bottom surface 202K, and a
plurality of side surfaces 203K for forming a substantially
three-dimensional structure having a quadrilateral cross section
(such as a rectangular cross section). Each of the base housing 20K
has a plurality of connecting slots 25K indently formed on the
bottom surface 202K of the base housing 201, wherein a
corresponding number of frame members 11K is connected on the top
surface 201K of the base housing 20K at a corresponding protrusion
251K which is right below the base housing 20K having the
connecting slots 25K at positions aligning therewith, so that the
frame members 11K are arranged to be partially received into the
corresponding connecting slots 25K for connecting the two
corresponding base housings 20K via the divider frame 111K. As
such, each two of the base housings 20K are connected in the
similar fashion for forming a stack of base housings 20K for
supporting the outdoor umbrella 70J.
[0169] A plurality of connectors 80K are used to connect the frame
members 11K with the base housings 20K. A thickness of the bottom
surface 202K and top surface 201K of each of the base housings 20K
is also substantially increased at the positions where the
connectors 80K are fastened so as to prevent the fastening
procedure from breaking the respective base housing 20K and leakage
of the mass medium through the punctured area caused by the
connectors 80K.
[0170] The reinforcing arrangement 30K comprises a plurality of
reinforcing members 31K provided on the side surfaces 203K of the
base housings 20K, wherein each of the reinforcing members 31K is
connected across a boundary of each two vertically adjacent base
housings 20K so as to substantially restrict any collateral
movement between each two adjacent base housings 20K.
[0171] The base structure of the present invention further
comprises a plurality of wheels 40K rotatably provided at bottom
side of the base housings 20K for allowing easy transportation of
the base structure. The wheels 40K are connected to the bottom
surface 202K of the bottommost base housing 20K for rotatably
supporting the base structure
[0172] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. It will
thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been
fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown
and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and
structural principles of the present invention and is subject to
change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this
invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit
and scope of the following claims.
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